Wire fence



(No Model.) l zsh'eets-Sheet 1.

L. J. IVES. WIRE FENCE.

No. 537,117. PaentedApr. 9, 1395.

1HE Nanm Ferias oo.. PnoruLrrHo., WASHING-ron, n. c.

(No Modell) 2 sheets-sheet 2. Y

L. J'. WBS. WIRE FENCE.

.-No'. 537,117.- PatennedApr.9,1a95..

UNITED [STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEwIs y.IfIvEs oF MEDINA,'NEw YORK, AssIcNoR, BY MEsNE ASSIGN- MENTS, To oHARLEs E, REEBE, oE DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

WIRE FENCE.

SPECIFIGATIONvformng part of .Letters Patent No. 537,117, dated April 9,1895.

. Application iiledJ'uly 24, 1893 Serial No. 481,270. (No model.)`

To all whom, it may concern: l

Beit known that I, LE lIS J. IVES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Medina, in the county of Orleans and State of New York, have invented certain'new and useful Improvements in Wire Fences; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, ,and

exact description ofthe invention', siich'as'will enable others skilled i`n the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and

to figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates tothat class of fences which consist of a number of parallel wires tightly stretched between posts. A uniform tension of these wires is requisite and various devices are employed for tightening them view of a part of the same; and Figs.- 3 and 4 are detached side and front elevations of thek combined wire tightener and tension equallZeI. Y

Referring to the drawings, 1 and 2 are the end posts between which the parallel wires 3 are stretched to form the fence. Each post has two pieces of plank 4. 4. placed edgewise on opposite sides and firmly attached to the post at or near the lower end. The ends of these pieces 4. 4. project sufficiently to receive two other pieces of plank 5. 5. which are laid fiat upon the pieces 4. 4. and secured to the same after the dirt has been thoroughly packed to the top edges of the pieces 4. 4. and over these united pieces the dirt is tightly packed to the surfaces thus preventing the post from v heaving or drawing out under strain.

An anchor-post 6 is set in line with the fence about eight or ten feet fromthe end expansionv post l and the braces 7. 7. are framed into the upper ends of theend and anchor posts in an inclined position as shown. The anchor-post 6 is tied to the end post 1 by the wire 8. This prevents the end and anchor posts from spreading apart under the rheavy strain eX- erted by the intermediate braces 7.7. caused by the stretching of the wires 3 between the end posts 1 and 2 of the section. Between and in line with the end posts land 2 are set at requisite distances intermediate posts into which are driven the staples 10ffor the loose reception of the wires 3 passing through them. These wires are fastened tothe post l in any suitable manner, their other ends passing through the end post 2 and secured to and operated by the combined tightener and tension equalizer which I will now describe in detail.

1l is a sti bow-spring made of sheet steel the inner side of which rests when in'position against the post 2 its outer side at its upperfree end carrying the plate 12 riveted thereto and provided with open bearings 13. 13. adapted for the reception ot' the windingshaft 14 having the circular grooves 15. 15. in which the open bearings 13 ride. One end of the wire 3 to be stretched is passed through an aperture 16 in the winding shaft 14 and a key or wrench applied to its square end 17 serves to wind the end of the wire around thel shaft and tighten it to the required tension. The other end 1S of this shaft 14 is made hexagonal for the loose reception of an hexagonal nut 19 which lits snugly between the end 18 and the plate 12 and serves to lock the shaft and hold the wire 3 in its stretched condition. Before the wire is stretched the normal position of the spring 11 is "shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. A spiral spring 20surrounds the wire 3 and rests when in operative position between the-ends of the spring. An elongated orifice 2l in the plate-12 and attached spring permits of free play of the wire 3 as it isbeing tightened. When the wire is suiiiciently tightened, the spring 11 is compressed as shown in full lines in Fig. 3 and in this position is susceptible of sufficient play in either direction to compensate for any expansion or contraction of the wire so held thus forming an automatic tension-equalizer. The coiled IOO spring 2() interposed between the ends of the fiat spring l1 serves to assist this spring in its equalizing action and forms at the same time a compressible bumper to prevent accidental breaking of the spring. A rubber or other form of spring might be substituted in place of the coiled-spring herein shown. At suitable distances apart are placed the perpendicular stay Wires 2l provided with loops 22 preferably in alternate side through which the wires 3 can pass easily, and fastened to the top and bottom Wires by means of smaller wire 23, that can be easily twisted through the upper and lower loops in the stay-wire and Wound around the upper and lower Wires in each direction to prevent slipping. In constructing this stay it is important that the loops be made large enough to permit the Wires 3 to pass through easily, as in building the fence the stay-wires are fastened to the upper and lower wires as described and the intermediate wires are then threaded through these loops. This stay differs from similar ones used in other fences in that it is not twisted on the horizontal wires but is so arranged that these Wires pass freely through it. In using this form of stay I am enabled, to employ heavier wire and machine made, thus obtaining more durability and greatly strengthening and stiiening the fence. In addition the horizontal wires can be tightened and should any of them break can be quickly repaired by loosening the Wire, splicing in a piece and tightening as at rst, whereas in fences Where the stay is Wound around or fastened to such Wire repairs cannot be made without taking the fence apart.

By my improved construction just outlined,

the fence can at any time be taken down and removed to other localities, if desired, With- 4o out injury to the other parts, by simply loosening the wires and drawing them out of the stay-Wires and then untwisting the small wires which hold the stay at top and bottom and removing the top and bottom wires.

One serious objection offered to Wire fences is that animals do not at times see them 'and are often injured by accidentally colliding With them. To obviate this Iprovide the narrow strip of board 24 Which I secure to and in line with the top Wire by staples 25 and to the stay-wires by staples 26 thus securely holding it in position.

I claim- 1. In a wire fence the combination with a post, of a wire passing through the said post, a bow-spring having its inner end bearing against the outer side'of the post and a tightener upon the outer end of the bow-spring, to which the wire is secured substantially as shown and described.

2. In a Wire fence the combination with a post, of a wire passing through the said post a bow-spring having its inner end bearing against the outer side of the post, a tightener 65 upon the outer end of the bow-spring to which the Wire is secured and a compressible bumper interposed between the ends of the bowspring substantially as shown and described.

In testimony' whereof I have signed my 7o name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

LEWIS J. IVES.

Witnessesz W. T. MILLER, O. E. I-IoDDIoK. 

